Five men indicted in nightclub slaying

STOCKTON - A grand jury has indicted five defendants in the murder of 29-year-old Eric Valverde, who was gunned down outside at a nightclub on the Miracle Mile one year ago Sunday.

Jennie Rodriguez-Moore

STOCKTON - A grand jury has indicted five defendants in the murder of 29-year-old Eric Valverde, who was gunned down outside at a nightclub on the Miracle Mile one year ago Sunday.

Rocky Riberal, 45, his 19-year-old son, Brandon; 19-year-old Vicente Yanez; and 18-year-olds Raymond Valles Jr. and Carlos Zendejas are all charged with the special-circumstances murder of Valverde and attempted murder of two other people who were with him that night.

Prosecutor Janet Smith said she will announce whether the District Attorney's Office will seek the death penalty at the next court hearing.

The prosecution's original complaint named three victims of attempted murder: Jorge Contreras, Tony Villalvazo and Julio Arias.

But changes were made to the list of names in the grand jury's 54-page indictment. The two attempted murder victims are Jorge Contreras and Serena Contreras.

Villalvazo, the former named victim, is awaiting trial on gang and weapons charges. He was booked into the San Joaquin County Jail in November, more than seven months after Valverde's shooting, which happened outside Evviva Lounge at Alder Street and Pacific Avenue on March 31, 2012.

Smith said the changes in the murder indictment have nothing to do with Villalvazo's current case. The evidence pointed out who the actual victims are, Smith said.

Defense attorneys are eager to see transcripts from the grand jury hearing.

Tai Bogan, who is representing Valles Jr., is especially interested in finding out more about Villalvazo's part.

Reports in Villalvazo's latest case say he had been arrested for murder the day Valverde was shot, but he was never charged for it.

One witness mentioned in police reports, but who was not identified, claimed to have seen Villalvazo with a gun.

Defense attorneys are looking for more information to be flushed out in the transcripts and other discovery procedures.

Stockton police found Valverde wounded outside the nightclub when they responded to reports of a fight and gunshots after midnight. Valverde died at a hospital.

Police made the arrests within a couple of weeks. Valles Jr. and Zendejas were juveniles at the time, but they are charged as adults, along with their counterparts.